Photon detector with a paralyzable photon-sensitive element, in particular SPAD, and distance measuring device comprising said type of photon detector

Abstract

A photon detector is disclosed that includes, in addition to an immobilizable photon-sensitive element, a photon transmission element. The photon detector is configured such that it can vary photon intensities impacting upon the photon-sensitive element and transmitted by the photon transmission element, for example, by modifying an absorption property or a defocusing property of the photon transmission element. Also, the immobile photon-sensitive element, which can be, for example a SPAD (Single Photon Avalanche Diode), always operates close to the optimal operating range and below an immobilization range. A distancing device that includes this type of photo detector is also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.